Crutch.



PATENTED NOV. 12, 1907.

B. E. HAYDEN.

CRUTGH.

APPLIOATION IILED DEC. 6, 190a.

nu: NORRIS PETERS cm, WASHINGTON, z:v c

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CRUTCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 12, 1907.

- Application filed December 6. 1906. Serial No.346.638.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD E. HAYDEN, United States Navy, resident of Washington, District of Golumbia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Orutches, which invention is fully set forth in the following specification.

This invention .relates to crutches. Continued use of the ordinarystyle of crutches having an arm-piece fitting under the arm-pit of shoulder has been found to produce injurious nervous affections in the arms and shoulders of the user, and it is the object of the present invention to produce a crutch whose use is not accompanied by such injurious and objectionable consequences.

With this object in view the invention consists of a crutch of any suitable or ordinary construction from the ferrule end thereof up to the hand-hold, and provided above the hand-hold with an arm-rest or brace upon or in which the arm, and preferably the fore-arm of the user is adapted to rest and be braced or steadied. Preferably this arm-rest or brace is inclined at an angle rearward as well as upward from the hand-hold, so as to be in a suitable position to receive and support the arm of the user.

The inventive idea involved may receive various mechanical expressions, some of which by way of illustra'tion have been shown in the accompanying drawings, but it is to be understood that said drawings are for illustration only and are not designed to define the limits of the invention, reference being had to the claims for this purpose.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of the invention; Fig. 2 a perspective view of another form, and Fig. 3 a View of the preceding form in use. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of yet another form, and Fig. 5 is a view showing the rest of Figs. 1 and 4 adjustable on its support or bracket. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the hand-hold shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

In said drawings, 1 designates the ferrule end of the crutch, while the standard is preferably bifurcated, forming two uprights or standards 2 and 3 between which is supported the hand-hold 4. This construction is preferred, though it will be manifest that if desired the crutch might have only a single upright or standard, with the hand-hold attached thereto or formed by a bend in its length, as shown for example in Fig. 4.

At or near the point where the handle is attached to the standard the crutchis provided with an arm-rest or.

brace 5. This rest or brace may be variously constructed. For example, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 it consists of an upward extension of the bifurcation 3, which extension is inclined rearwardly, and is preferably provided with means for keeping the arm of the user in place thereon. In the construction shown in Fig. 2 this is very readily accomplished by dividing the upper end of this prolongation and spreading and bringing the two ends over and around to the other side of the handle where it is joined to the other bifurcation. Or, if desired, this form of crutch might be made of a single piece of material, the piece being bent in.the middle and the ends brought together at the ferrule end, and the handle attached between the uprights or standards near the top. That portion above the handle may be divided and the parts spread apart, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, for the reception of the arm of the user. This portion may be inclined rearwardly, if desired, and may also have a crotch in which the arm of the user is adapted to rest and be supported or braced.

In the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4, the prolongation may either be broadened and concaved in order that the arm of the user may rest more securely thereon, or this prolongation may simply form a support or bracket to which a separately formed rest is either fixedly or adjustably secured, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5. This rest may either be made of a flat strip of suitable material, as sheet-metal or fiber-board, c'oncaved and generally conformed to the contour of the arm, or

may be a block of wood or other suitable material,

grooved and shaped generally to the contour of the arm as in the other form.

Instead of the arm-rest .being a prolongation of one of the standards or uprights, it is in some cases a sepa rate part secured to the standard or upright near its upper end, either adjustably or fixedly. And its natural spring or resiliency may be augmented by attenuating the arm or prolongation or by making it of a resilient material, such as spring-steel.

The hand-hold may be of any desired construction to afford a firm and easy grip, and may be provided with a yielding or resilient covering either of coiled metal, as shown in Fig. 6, or rubber, as shown in Fig. 1.

It will be perceived that in the construction of crutch described there is no possibility of the user throwing the weight of his body upon any part of the crutch in such way as to cause injury. The arm-rest or brace not only affords a steadying action, but also receives a portion of the weight without injurious pressure upon the nervous parts of the body occurring with the old form of crutch.

What is claimed is:-

l. In a crutch, the combination of a standard, a hand hold, and an arm-rest or brace for the arm of the user below the-arm-pit.

2. In a crutch, the combination of a standard, a handhold, and an arm-rest or brace for the arm of the user, said arm-rest constituting an extension or prolongation of the standard.

3. In a crutch, the combination of a standard, a handheld, and an upwardly and rearwardly inclined arm-rest or brace for the arm of the user.

4. In a crutch, the combination of a standard, a handhold, anda resilient arm-rest 0r brace for the arm of the user secured to said standard.

5. In a crutch, the combination of a standard, a handhold, and an arnrrest or brace for the arm of the user adjustably secured to said standardv 6. In a crutch, the combination of a standard, a handhold, and an arm-rest or brace for the arm of the user below the arm-pit, said rest being concaved for the reception 0f the arm of the user.

7. In a crutch, the .combination of a standard, a hand hold, and an arm-rest or brace, said rest consisting of a concaved part for the'reception of the arm of the user be low the arm-pit and a support or bracket attached to said standard.

8. In a crutch, the combination of a standard, a handheld, and an armrest or brace, said rest consisting of a support or bracket and an adjustable concaved part for the reception of the arm of the user below the arm-pit.

9. In a crutch, the combination of a standard, a handhold, and an arm-rest or brace, said rest consisting of a concaved part for the reception of the arm of the user and a support or bracket adjustably secured to said standard.

10. In a crutch, the combination of a standard, a handhold, and a resilient arm-rest or brace for the arm of the user.

11. In a crutch, the combination of a standard, of a hand-hold, and an arm-rest or brace consisting of a concaved part for the reception of the arm of the user, and a resilient supporting arm or bracket.

12. In a crutch, the combination of a standard, a resilient hand-hold, and an arm-rest or brace for the arm of the user below the arm-pit.

13. In a crutch, the combination of a standard, a handhold, and'an adjustable armrest or brace for the arm of the user below the arm-pit.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

EDW'ARD E. HAYDEN.

Witnesses S. T. CAMERON, W. B. MERKAM. 

